Perhaps the hardest thing to do in life (and sports) is learning *when* to change course. The Canucks are currently NOT on course to win a Cup based on the last two seasons outcomes and watching this team play every night. To use nautical terms - is this course correction a small adjustment to the helm of the ship and a trimming of the sails? Or are we moving the ship hard over and need to tack?

This Vulcan thinks trimming the course is not enough - although I think the ownership will not want a major course correction. Were I the ownership, I would be tellling my GM to do the following:

STEP ONE: FIRE ALAIN VIGNAULT

Anyone who watched the games this season knows one thing: something drastic has to happen. There were far too many lackluster performances from this squad. Too many nights where players just didn't play like they really wanted to win. While it is true that AV has been the winningest coach in Canucks history, this team simply didn't look mentally prepared to win far too often. Yes - he has to try and win with the players he has - but then why not play a more free-wheeling system if we don't have the big bodies to bang around the opposition? If the coach cannot adapt his system to the players he actually has under contract, then he has to go. Plus - since I truly believe the Canucks have to get younger to get better, and AV is not apparently fond of young forwards, he has to be the change.

STEP TWO: PICK A GOALIE - ANY GOALIE - AND TRADE THE OTHER

Luongo would seem to be the obvious choice to try and move - but the number of suitors the Canucks would have for his contract would seem to be few to none - particularly with the Cap dropping. Perhaps the better solution would be to trade Schnieder and get some young talent with size and skill. Regardless - the Canucks can win games (not talking Cups right now) - with either goaltender.

STEP THREE: STOCKPILE SOME YOUNG TALENT

These Canucks are old in a young man's league. They have alot of no movement clauses - so a bunch of Canucks are not going anywhere. However - there are a few players who have value that the Canucks can move now for cheaper younger players who have an upside so the Canucks don't have to hit bottom. Edler is probably the biggest asset the Canucks can move - and *should* move - for what they really need - younger bigger players.

STEP FOUR: SIGN MORE A$$HOLES

This team is just too nice. In today's NHL, skill is less valued than size and grit. It seems the game is being won in the trenches, not by finesse. Against the Sharks, the Canucks just didnt have the horse to get in the crease and be effective. When there were rebonunds off Niemi (and other goalies for much of the season), there were not enough Canucks ready to pounce on pucks and jam them home. The majority of goals I've seen in this years playoffs seem to be from scrums in front. The Canucks dont have nearly enough scrum lovers on offense.

Agre or disagree, thats fine. This Vulcan has been dealing with his wife's cancer, so has't been on much to post.

Agreed. This team needs some major assholes in the top nine. Although Booth is not much of an asshole but he would be a much better fit for the Sharks series than Raymond. However, the problem is that every GM is looking for assholes...

Wholesale changes are going to be difficult, given all the guys on LT contracts and no movement clauses.

The big decision to come is what happens to the Sedin's. One year left on their contracts and then what? Resigned? or back to Sweden for Hank and Danny? They've been major award winners, made lots of money and had great careers. Only thing missing is the Stanley Cup and if they feel the Canucks won't be able to compete for the silver mug, wouldn't surprise me to see them gone.

Jovocop wrote:Agreed. This team needs some major assholes in the top nine. Although Booth is not much of an asshole but he would be a much better fit for the Sharks series than Raymond. However, the problem is that every GM is looking for assholes...

Well, part of the problem is that the Canucks were built for finesse when the league changed the rules to encourage that. Unfortunately for the Canuck organization, these rules seem to be less and definitely variably enforced during the playoffs. Given that the Cup is the goal, it seems the model should be - "F**! the rules - just win enough to get into the playoffs and then mug your way to the Cup".

Our team is simply not physically built to do that. And I don't see the League changing this trend. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

That said, when the Canucks played physical against the Sharks, even the Shark announcers thought the Canucks were getting the short end of the calls. They couldn't believe Daniel or Bieksa were called for those hits at the end of Game 4.

Jovocop wrote:Agreed. This team needs some major assholes in the top nine. Although Booth is not much of an asshole but he would be a much better fit for the Sharks series than Raymond. However, the problem is that every GM is looking for assholes...

Well, part of the problem is that the Canucks were built for finesse when the league changed the rules to encourage that. Unfortunately for the Canuck organization, these rules seem to be less and definitely variably enforced during the playoffs. Given that the Cup is the goal, it seems the model should be - "F**! the rules - just win enough to get into the playoffs and then mug your way to the Cup".

Our team is simply not physically built to do that. And I don't see the League changing this trend. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

That said, when the Canucks played physical against the Sharks, even the Shark announcers thought the Canucks were getting the short end of the calls. They couldn't believe Daniel or Bieksa were called for those hits at the end of Game 4.

Yeah even with our softies, the ref's gave out the most powerplay time to any team in the playoffs thus far for the Sharks.

So imo we should go all out with pure skill offense at least for the two top lines, then acquire the true QB like a Mike Green, Jake Gardiner someone who will be available to glue all the offense together and make our powerplay lethal again.

Would be nice to have a Peca for a Mogilny type swap right now, that wasn't a good trade that much back then with a different team/rules etc, but we need our version of a Hossa type player to help the Kesler line.

Then get players who fit the role of grinders/defensive specialists/size/some scoring prowess for the 3rd/4th lines.

Be good to bring along some rookies like Gaunce or Jensen next season as well.

these rules seem to be less and definitely variably enforced during the playoffs. Given that the Cup is the goal, it seems the model should be - "F**! the rules - just win enough to get into the playoffs and then mug your way to the Cup".

I've said this every off-season for 15 years.

Spock, you may be a pointy-eared hobgoblin, but you're OUR pointy-eared hobgoblin.

I do think the window of opportunity to win the Cup for this group has shrunk to a pinhole. Maybe with some astute moves this off-season they can widen it for a season to a peephole. But Dies Irae is coming.......

I do think the window of opportunity to win the Cup for this group has shrunk to a pinhole. Maybe with some astute moves this off-season they can widen it for a season to a peephole. But Dies Irae is coming.......

Well the days of the Broad Street Bullies if over and if we had a slash like the one Clarke gave to Varlamov in the Summit Series, the guy would be suspended from hockey. But it does bring up the point - do you prefer hockey to be more finesse or physicial?